Workshop meetings are informal discussion style meetings that are open to the public. No official city business is conducted; therefore official minutes are not kept. The summary below is provided for informational purposes only. It has been generated from notes for the Woodbury Council Report cable show (as seen on SWC-TV Channel 16) and is not a comprehensive report of workshop discussions and events. For more information about any agenda item, contact the Administration Department at (651) 714-3523 or by e-mail at woodbury@ci.woodbury.mn.us.
This report is a summary of the July 20 Council workshop meeting.
Last fall, the Environmental Education Commission asked whether the city might consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle for use in the city's fleet. The commissioners mentioned that other cities are using hybrids, which run on a combination of gasoline and electric power.
Some of the current hybrid models are the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight; Honda also produces the Civic as a hybrid. These vehicles are capable of achieving twice the fuel economy of conventional vehicles and they have much lower emissions.
The question was referred to the Public Works Department, which oversees the city's fleet. Public Works researched not only hybrids but also alternative fuels. They prepared a comprehensive report that was presented to the EEC in June and then to the City Council at the July workshop. The department evaluated five fuels:
Each of these alternative fuels has its own unique qualities and benefits. However, the cost and convenience of implementing the various fuels into the city's fleet vary greatly.
After examining the pros and cons of each fuel, staff recommended that the city begin using biodiesel as of January 2005 and that one hybrid vehicle be included in the 2005 budget. Regarding the biodiesel, the state is mandating the use of biodiesel fuel as of June 30, 2005. The minimum standard will be a two percent biodiesel blend. Optional grades currently in use are five percent (B5) biodiesel and 20 percent (B20).
Any diesel engine can run on biodiesel without engine modifications. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and it reduces air pollutants such as soot, particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxins. Other cities using biodiesel have noted improvements in emissions, reduction in odor, and quieter operation of diesel powered vehicles.
Rather than adopting the minimum standard, staff recommended the use of the five percent B5 blend, and that the city incorporate this fuel into its operations in January instead of waiting until June. The cost of using the B5 grade is approximately $1,000 more than the B2 annually. The recommendation was supported by the EEC with a 5-0 vote.
Regarding the hybrid, this would be a scheduled replacement for one of the city's vehicles in the Building Inspections Division. While the cost of a hybrid is higher than a conventional car of the same model, the city will recover much of the cost through savings on fuel costs over the life of the vehicle. In addition, the city will model energy conservation and reduced environmental impacts in the community.
The EEC supported this purchase with a 5-0 vote, and two of the commissioners were present at the workshop to support the staff recommendation. Council members were supportive of the recommendations, but requested that staff monitor performance and fuel costs with the biodiesel fuel and the hybrid vehicle once it is purchased.
Staff is proposing a development moratorium on a 40-acre parcel situated on Woodbury's south corporate limits west of the new Tower Drive/Hinton Avenue connection. The proposed moratorium is due to the pending preliminary plat for a residential subdivision called Ravenswood.
The proposed plat would have a significant impact on the city's ability to implement its storm water management plan. By adopting a moratorium, the city and the South Washington Watershed District will have time to perform additional storm water studies. The city also can evaluate alternative land uses for this area.
This property is the location of a major storm water ponding facility shown on the city's 1979 storm drainage plan. The plan calls for a regional pond at this location to limit the rate of water discharge to Cottage Grove.
The preliminary plat submitted to the city shows ponding only for the development itself and does not account for the regional system in the city's plan. Storm water discharge rates for this area were calculated more than 20 years ago, so it seems prudent to verify the calculations for starters. The city has requested that the watershed district do so as soon as possible.
Another issue that must be evaluated as part of the land use review is sanitary sewer and water service.
Finally, there is a possibility of allowing smaller lots than the rural estates zoning district presently requires. Allowing smaller lots would give the city some flexibility in negotiating additional area to be dedicated for storm water ponding.
Because of the many issues surrounding this area, staff was seeking Council direction regarding a moratorium on this property. A moratorium can be imposed for 12 months initially and extended to 18 months if additional time is needed. The moratorium can be imposed on the plat submittal area and extended if other proposals within the study area surface.
Joe Fogarty, the property owner, attended the workshop and said he is willing to work with the city to resolve any issues. He also asked that the Council consider establishing a detailed project plan to ensure progress is made throughout the moratorium period.
The Council directed staff to proceed with the moratorium, which will need formal approval at a future Council meeting.
Staff has begun working on the 2005 city budget. At the June workshop meeting, the City Council provided direction regarding a tax levy target that might be used in constructing a proposed budget.
Council members indicated that the operations levy increase should not exceed between 5 and 7.7 percent. The Council also instructed staff to increase the street major maintenance budget by 40 percent, in accordance with the recommendations of the citizens task force that studied the major maintenance program. In addition, the budget must reflect the 2004 debt issued for street maintenance in Woodbury and for bond issues for street improvements.
At the July workshop, the Council received an update on the budget process. The tax rate will decrease in 2005, meaning that if a home did not increase in value, that the city's portion of the tax bill also will decrease. Most homes in Woodbury will see an increase in value of 12 to 13 percent.
The Council concurred with the 6.5 percent operating levy target.
The recommended budget will be presented to Council members at a workshop on August 10. The workshop begins at 4 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend.
Detailed information on agenda items is available on the July 20, 2004, City Council Workshop Agenda.